1
: a small set of keys that is part of a larger keyboard or another device (such as a telephone or calculator)
The keyboards of costly computers … usually have a separate numeric keypad in addition to the usual numerals in the top row of any keyboard.—
Consumer Reports
Consumer ReportsThis lets you operate your centrally located audio/video gear from anywhere in the house, either by a handheld remote control or a keypad built into the wall.—Video Review
Video Review2
: a small, usually numerical keyboard
Deactivate the alarm by punching a code into the keypad mounted inside the house.
Using a handheld keypad, the salesperson presses a three-digit code to find specific tracks. For example, "147" might be a segment with maintenance tips for the Cadillac diesel engine.—Jane Wollman
Jane WollmanExamples of keypad in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead, you’re supposed to enter the code into a different keypad panel that’s mounted to the wall next to the gate.
—Jason Fried, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Though the harbor is accessible to the public, the docks are locked and only accessible by keypad.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The compact and low-profile keyboard has a 100% layout with 103 keys, which means a full row of function/media keys and a numeric keypad to keep the spreadsheet jockeys happy.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Texting has produced a substantial vocabulary of acronyms and shorthand expressions, many of which date to when cellphones had numeric keypads, or at least to when messages were restricted to a hundred and sixty characters.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keypad
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jason Fried, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Though the harbor is accessible to the public, the docks are locked and only accessible by keypad.
—Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
The compact and low-profile keyboard has a 100% layout with 103 keys, which means a full row of function/media keys and a numeric keypad to keep the spreadsheet jockeys happy.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Texting has produced a substantial vocabulary of acronyms and shorthand expressions, many of which date to when cellphones had numeric keypads, or at least to when messages were restricted to a hundred and sixty characters.
—Louis Menand, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for keypad
Cite this Entry
“Keypad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/keypad. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
keypad
noun
key·pad
ˈkē-ˌpad 
: a small keyboard (as on a pocket calculator)
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
